Cigar machine



Sept 10, 1957 H. H. WHEELER CIGAR MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Nov. 26, 1946 INVENTOR HENRY H. WHEELER BY 2 f ATTORNEY H. H. WHEELER CIGAR MACHINE Sept 10, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 26. 1946 INVENTOR HENRY H. WHEELER M 44 A TORNEY Sept 10, 1957 H. H. WHEELER CIGAR MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Nov. 26. 1946 lllll\ '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY H. H. WHEELER CIGAR MACHINE U E Y i m N ai mm mm a \I w g 55% Q mm m H. mm AMY m aw TNT E un l. 2. 5 0 0? .2

Sept 10, 1957 Original Filed Nov. 26, 1946 'BY 6 I Sept 10, 1957 H. H. WHEELER CIGAR MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Nov. 26, 1946' vINVENTOR HENRY H. WHEELER BY g ATTORNEY Sept 10, 1957 H. H. WHEELER CIGAR MACHINE v 7 SheetsSheet 6 Original Filed Nov. 26, 1946 INYENTOR YHENRY H. WHEELER AITORNEY Sept 10, 1957 H. H. WHEELER CIGAR MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed Nov. 26. 1946 mwdE INVENTOR HENRY H. WHEELER BY W7 A; ATTORNEY United States PatentOfi 2,805,655 Patented Sept. 10, 1957 CIGAR MACIHNE Original application November 26, 1946, Serial No.

712,456, now Patent No. 2,667,173, dated January 26,v

1954. Divided and this application May 19, 1953, Serial No. 359,752

12 Claims. (Cl. 131-21) This invention relates to cigar machines, more particularly to hydraulically operated cigar machines.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 712,456, filed November 26, 1946, now Patent No. 2,667,173, issued January 26, 1954.

One of the main objects of the invention is to simplify the construction of cigar machines and reduce their weight and cost. Since my machine has no heavy and expensive cams, there is a considerable reduction in cost and weight. Other savings in weight and cost are obtained by elimination of shafts for supporting the cams, elimination of frames for supporting the cam shafts, elimination of gears, and elimination of driving connections. Accordingly, my machine may have a weight approximately one-half the weight of prior cigar machines and its cost may be considerably less. I

Due to the fact that the various units of my machine are supported upon a single table, and are rearranged to save space, my machine occupies approximately fiveeighths of the floor space required for a previous type of machine. V,

The various units of my cigar machinemay be operated by separate fluid-operated devices controlled by fluid delivered under pressure from a source of fluid under pressure such as a hydraulic pump. Since the various units of the cigar machine are operated by separate fluid-operated devices, there is considerably less danger of injury of the attendant by moving parts. With separate fluid-operated devices for actuating the various units the forces imparted to the moving parts to operate the same are of such a controlled and limited magnitude that no injury to the attendant will result from manual obstruction thereof.

With mechanically driven units, which are now used on cigar machines, the moving parts may injure the attendant if obstructed; because the momentum of the entire machine must be overcome to stop any moving part which is obstructed. Although mechanism for stopping the entire machine has been heretofore provided to pre vent injury in the event any of its parts are manually obstructed, the momentum of the considerable weight of the moving parts of a mechanically driven cigar machine prevents instantaneous stoppage. To obtain the same degree of safety on a mechanically driven cigar machine as on my machine a safety device would be required for most units, which would be complicated and expensive.

Still another object of the invention is to improve the operation of the mechanism for intermittently feeding the continuous layer or stream of filler tobacco into the column forming means. On prior cigar machines, when the continuous stream of tobacco was advanced in the tiller feed channel into the column-forming means for they amount, of the same. Asa result, I believe, the friction created against the side belts, which are backed up by rigid plates, by the portion of the tobacco stream which is compacted by the compactor will vary considerably. This causes more or less springing in the motivating members driving the belts and a variation in the charge or bunch length. In a cam operated machine it is not always possible to eliminate springing, as the cams are often some distance from the point where force is applied. In a hydraulic mechanism it is possible to obtain motion of the belts without springing as the hydraulic motor can be so placed that no springing is possible. Thus, bunch length sections of more uniform length will be severed for assemblage into a column from which the bunch charges are separated.

In prior machines of the type wherein bunch charges were separated from a vertical tobacco column formed by superimposing bunch length sections, the column was compacted by a compactor engaging the upper end of the column and mounted on a reciprocable member and pressed against the top of the tobacco column by a compression spring. When the height of the tobacco column varied due to delivery thereto of bunch length sections of varying thickness, the spring urging the compactor against the column was compressed to a greater or lesser extent and the density of the tobacco column varied at least to some extent in accordance with its height. Therefore, cigar bunch charges varying somewhat in density .were separated from the column and these variations might be great enough attimes to affect the density of the'cigarsformed from the bunch charges. One object of the invention, therefore, is to avoid variations in the severance of bunch length sections from its leading and, 1

density'of the compacted tobacco column from which the bunch charges are separated. For this purpose the mem ber compacting the tobacco column is hydraulically operated by connecting it to the piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder is provided withinstrumentalities for maintaining an unvaried fluid pressure on the piston of the hydraulic cylinder to maintain the pressure applied to the tobacco column constant and thereby permit bunch charges of uniform density to be separated from the tobacco column. Without such instrumentalities the pressure applied to the tobacco column would vary in accordance with the resistance of the column up to a maximum pressure determined by the pressure of the fluid supplied to the hydraulic cylinder.

Still another object of the invention is to permit variation of the pressure applied to the tobacco column for compaction thereof. The instrumentalities referred to are manually adjustable to regulate the pressure applied to the tobacco column. I

If desired, the cutter for severing the bunch length sections may be integral with the compactor for the tobacco column. In this case the instrumentalities for regulating the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder may be constructed to apply a greater pressure to the piston in the hydraulic cylinder during the severance of the bunch length section and then reduce the pressure applied thereto during the compaction of the tobacco column.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts. I

Fig. 1 is -a plan view of a hydraulic cigar machine ex- 'emplifying my invention and showing in their proper positionrelative to each other all main components or by the attendant, there may be considerablev variation in above the table of the cigar 3 per applying device is driven from the motor driving the hydraulic pump;

Fig. 2 is a perspective plan view of all those components of assemblies which might be seen below the table if said table were transparent. This viewis given mainly to illustrate the main hydraulic circuitand shows thesuction lines as well; i

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the master valve housing taken in a slightly inclined position thereof and showing its general external appearance with certain portions of housing cut away to expose certain valves, the cam shaft, and one of the cams controlling the valves;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of themaster valve housing with certain portions of the housing cut away .in order to exposecertain valves and the cam operating the same;

Fig. 5 is asectional view of one ofthe valves taken on the line 5-.5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the master valve housing on line 6--6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the filler feed showing a portion of the bunch rolling table and the hydraulic circuits for same, certain portions thereof being broken Fig. 8 is a longitudinalsectional view on an enlarged scale of'the hydraulic cylinder for operatingthebunch length cutter. maintaining a constant pressure on the pistonof the hydraulic cylinder.

Thehydraulic cigar machine selected to illustrate the invention includes the following components whichcorrespond to similar units of prior mechanically driven' cigar machines. These units or assemblies are visible above the supporting table L of my-machine. and areall hydraulically operated in properlytimed relationship with 1 the exceptionof the wrapper applying mechanism.

The filler feed F (Figs. 1 and 7) which may be considered as the first hydraulically operated unit, is provided with a cross feed including two vertical intermit- I tently traveling belts 9 9 and one intermittently traveling horizontal belt'1'00. The upper run of the horizontal belt and the inner runs of the vertical belts form a filler feed channel in which filler tobacco is manually laid to form a layer. of tobacco which is advanced into a measuring chamber or magazine where bunch length sections are cut offffrom the leading end of the tobacco layer. The severed bunch lengths are superimposed in the measuring chamber to form a column which is compacted to a predetermined density, and bunch charges are separated from the compacted column and transferred to the bunch rolling table T (Fig. 1), upon which the bunch Charge is. rolled or wrapped within a binder to form a cigar bunch. The filler feed F and other units of my machine. will be described in detail following the general description of the cigar machine.

Binder cutting mechanism (Fig. l) is another hydraulically operated unit and consists of an intermittently rotating turret B on which there are two dies on which binders are cut from binder leaf tobacco manually placed thereon, by binder-cutting rollers 445 which are moved over the dies at the proper time. It may be noted that in my machine the binder turret B is arranged within the outline of the table L and that the various units have all beenarrangedon the table L, so that no auxiliary This view illustrates the mechanism for l transfer consists-of an arm swinging about a verticalaxis cally operated and consists of a paste pot filled with paste and mechanism which transfers paste from the pot to a predetermined portion of the binder deposited on rolling table T. Rolling table T is provided with a rolling apron and a sliding carriage on which is pivoted a device for operating the rider plate (Fig. 1). At the proper time the bunch charge delivered from the filler feed F is rolled upon itself within a loop formed in the apron by the rider plate and then rolled within the binder to form a cigar bunch the paste applied by the binder paster U assisting in holding the binder on the bunch.

Another unit K'known as a bunch transfer (Fig. 1) is also fluid-operated and carries the cigar from the bunch rolling table T to the orimper C (Fig. 1).

The crimper C is another fluid-operated unit and comprises two pairs of jaws between which the ends of the cigar bunch are inserted by the bunch transfer K. When these jaws close, the ends of the bunch are compressed into the proper shape.

A bunch transfer 0 (Fig. 1) is also fluid-operatedand provided with fingers which grip the bunch and deliver it to the Wrapper-applying device. At this point, especially in connection with the bunch transfers, it should be mentioned that one of the advantages of my hydraulically operated machine is that in case of obstruction of the bunch transfers by some object or the operators body, no injury to the operator or machine will result; since only sufficient power with a small additional margin is supplied to operate the unit. Thus, obstruction of any unit will simply cause oil fiow to cease to that unit for the time being. In the case of obstruction of a unit equipped with a mechanical drive. it is likely that the operator would be injured or that the machine would be broken. 1

On the wrapper cutting mechanism (Fig. 1), which constitutes another fluid-operated unit, a wrapper has been cut :atthe proper time. This mechanism includes a turrefW which is provided with a pair of wrapper-cutting dies and intermittently turned similarly to the binder die turret. The cutter roll carriage Y supports cutter rollers '460 which coact with each die successively at one station of the turret to cut wrappers from leaf tobacco manually positioned on the die at the other station of the turret.

The wrapper transfer picks up the cut wrapper from the die at the cutting station and carries it in a predetermined path to the wrapper-applying device D. While being transferred along said path the wrapper passes over the wrapper paster. V. This wrapper transfer is similar to the wrapper transfer shown and described in my Patent No. 2,235,857 issued March 25, 1941, and is mechanically driven in the same manner shown in said patent. The wrapper paster V is another hydraulically driven unit, and consists of a paste pot and a paste applicator or grid. Thisapplicator dips into the paste pot and then rises and applies paste in a certain pattern to the flag endof the wrapper being carried to the wrapper-applying device by the wrapper transfer.

The wrapper-applying device D operates to. remove the wrapper from the wrapper transfer and wind it spirally about a cigar bunch previously delivered to the wrapper-applying device .by the transfer 0. The wrapper-applying device is mechanically driven and is similar to the wrapper-applying device shown and described in .thc Durning PatentlNo. 2,290,171,;issued July 2], 1942. The wrapper transfer is provided with a device, not shown in Fig. 1; but shown in Fig. 2, which includes a hydraulic cylinder 780 operating on air cylinder 738 connected to mechanism (not shown) to blow the flag end of the wrapper down from the wrapper transfer at the: proper time. After the flag end of ,the wrapper. is blown down from the wrapper carrier it is slit and Wound about the -hea'd endof the cigar bunch. This device also includes an air line. and avalve which are hydraulically operated at theproper time;

i in Figs. 1 and 3 meshing with each other.

The cigar transfer N, which is also hydraulically driven, operates at the proper time in the machine cycle to transfer the cigar from the wrapper-applying device to the re-rolling mechanism R which constitutes another hydraulically operated unit of the machine.

The re-rolling mechanism R includes an oscillating drum 833 which is hydraulically driven and coacts with a stationary concave to roll back and forth a cigar introduced therebetween by the cigar transfer N. The rerolling mechanism also includes two revolving knurlers which are hydraulically driven and engage and serve to smooth the ends of the cigar, and cutoff knives which trim the tuck end of the cigar. Except for the hydraulic drives for the re-rolling drum and the knurlers the present re-rolling mechanism is similar to the re-rolling mechanism disclosed in my Patent No. 2,337,076, issued December 21, 1943.

All these units are located above the table L (Fig. 1). Certain mechanisms, such as the drive, the master valve and the piping are located under table L, but these require little space and are so arranged that there is plenty of room for cleaning of the floor and maintenance of the machine.

Drive The drive for my machine (Figs. 1, 1A, 1B, 2, and 3) is provided with an electric motor 1 carrying a pulley 2 on its shaft. A belt 3 is driven from pulley 2 and drives a pulley 4 (Figs. 1A and 1B) which is loosely mounted on a sleeve 21 keyed on the shaft 22 of a pump 6. The sleeve 21 has a flange 23 against which is seated a ring 24 formed of suitable friction material and interposed between the pulley 4 and flange 23. A clutch pulley 5 is threaded on the sleeve 21 and held in driving engagement with pulley 4 by a torsion spring 20a. One end of torsion spring 29a is anchored in a lock nut 25 threaded on sleeve 21, and the other end of spring 20a is anchored in pulley 5. Thus, the pulley 4 will be pressed against the friction material 24 to drive shaft 22 and operate pump 6, and pulley 5 will be driven. A belt 7 on pulley 5 drives pulley 8 on reduction drive shaft 9. The shaft 9 drives reduction gearing of the well known planetary type enclosed in housing 10. The output shaft 13 of the reduction gearing drives the vertical drive shaft 14 (Fig. 1) of the operating mechanism of the wrapper transfer through bevel gears 15 and 16. Bevel gear 16 is also fragmentarily shown in Fig. 2 meshing with gear 15. Shaft 13 also drives the master valve cam shaft .17 through bevel gears 18 and 19, bevel gear 18 not being visible in Fig. 2, but both gears 18 and 19 being shown The wrapperapplying device D is driven from the shaft 14, and the re-rolling mechanism R is controlled from shaft 14.

When the operating mechanism of the wrapper transfer is obstructed in any manner, manually or otherwise, the pulley 5 will unscrew itself from engagement with pulley 4 and the rotation of the shaft 22 of pump 6 and the rotation of shaft 14 will be stopped. Therefore, the operation of the wrapper transfer, the wrapper-applying mechanism and the various units controlled by the fluid circulated from pump 6 Will be interrupted.

There is provided a brake 20 (Figs. 1A, 1B and 2) having a handle 26 fastened on a shaft 27 suitably supported from table L. On shaft 27 is secured a brake piece 28 to which is pivotally connected a brake piece 29 whose free end engages a yoke 31) secured on shaft 27. The brake pieces 28 and 2.9 enclose a circumferential flange on pulley 5 and normally permit it to rotate freely. When the handle 26 is pulled downwardly the circumferential flange on pulley 5 is gripped by the brake pieces 28 and 29 and the pulley 5 will be unscrewed from the position wherein it engages pulley 4. When handle 26 is released by the operator, the torsion-spring 20a shown infFigs. 1A and IE will cause the pulley 5 to be screwed Master. valves The hydraulic pump 6, which maybe a vane type pump of conventional construction, is supplied with oil by pipe 55 from an oil reservoir 56 (Fig. 2) wherein it is filtered by filter 56a. The oil is delivered from pump 6 under pressure through a pipe 57 to a cored out chamber 58 in the master valve housing H (Figs. 3-6). This cored out chamber runs the entire length of the valve housing and feeds oil to each of twenty-four four-way master valves numbered 31-54 inclusive. Other cored out passages 59 and in this housing, which communicate with each other as shown in Fig. 6, receive the exhausted oil from these valves and return it to reservoir 56 through pipe 86.

Each four-way valve is of a well known type, its function being to feed fluid to either side of a fluid motor, as desired, and 'to return the fluid from the opposite side of the fluid motor to the reservoir or sump 56. Each of the valves 31-54 inclusive is provided with a stationary sleeve secured in housing H. In sleeves 90 are slidably mounted spool-shaped members 87. Members 87 are provided on their central and end portions with heads which have a diameter greater than the rest of member 87, as is shown in the case of valve 54 in Fig. 5. Each valve sleeve 90 has five pairs of opposed slots which are so spaced that three pairs of slots, which communicate with the passages 58, 59 and 85, are normally closed by the heads on valve spool 87. The lower ends of valve spools 87 are tapered and rest on cam levers 31L-54L inclusive, which carry cam rollers 31R-54R inclusive, which engages cams SIC-54C inclusive, secured on cam shaft 17. The cam levers 31L-54L inclusive, are mounted on a shaft 91 supported in the master valve housing H, and springs 92 seated in sockets in the upper ends of valve spools 87 and engaging plugs 93 threaded into the master valve housing, keep the cam rollers of these levers in engagement with cams 31C54C inclusive.

It will be apparent that if the valve spools 87 are slightly raised or lowered that oil will flow under pressure from chamber 58 through the central pair of slots in sleeve 90, which are normally closed by the central head of the valve spools 87, out a lower or upper intermediate slot to return through the other upper or'lower intermediate slot respectively and thence through either the uppermost or lowermost pair of slots in sleeve 90, which are normally closed by the upper or lower head of spools 87, into either the chamber 59 or chamber 85. Thus, the oil flowing from chamber 58 through the slots in sleeve 90 opened by the central head will also be delivered through either pair of slots in sleeve 90 intermediate the central and the outermost slots into ports formed in the sides of the main valve housing H and communicating with the intermediate slots in sleeve 90. These ports are connected by pipes, as for example 54a and 54b, to a hydraulic motor or cylinder, as will be hereinafter described, so that the oil will flow through one pipe into the motor or cylinder and be returned'by the other pipe to either the chamber 59 or 85.

There are twenty-eight pairs of pipes connected to the ports in the sides of the master valve housing H. A pair of pipes leads from each pair of these ports to each of the respective hydraulic motors or cylinders which operate various mechanisms, with the exception of valves 51, 52, 53 and 54. These four valves have two pairs of pipes for each valve to supply oil to the two die turrets which are simultaneously indexed by degree steps,

the suction head lifter of each turret, the suction control for each turret, and the roller cuttersof each turret.

A relief valve 98 of conventional construction (Fig. 6) allows oil to escape from pressure chamber 58into the exhaust chamber 85 when the oil pressure in chamber 58 becomes excessive and thereby maintains the oil pressure anon ass communicate with each other,.as shown in Fig. 6, to provide a common outlet into pipe 86.

Reduction-gearing (Figsp4 and 5) including a'ringgear 94 secured-to cam 54C,"a-pinion'95-keyed oncam shaft 17,-andan intermediate gear 96 mountedon a stub shaft 97 supported in "housingI-I, is provide'cbfor driving the cam 540at-one-half the'speed'of-shaft 17. The other cams 31C'53C inclusive, are secured to shaft 17 and are revolved at-the-same speed as shaftf17.

Cross feed column forming, and charge measuring and severing Referringlnow to Fig. of-the drawings wherein is illustrated .the filler feedbf my cigar machine, the filler feed includes a cross feed provided with two side belts 99 andone bottom belt 100 arranged toforrn a filler feed channel in whichstemmedleaf: tobacco is manually placed to-formatcontinuouslayer.oftobacco. Each'of the belts 99-is trained:aboutiatdrivingpulley and an idler pulley, and'hoth driving pulleys are drivenfrom-shaft 101 through two pairs of bevel gears, onepair of bevel gears being shown inFig. 7. One.of.these bevel gearsis secured on shaft 101.=and meshes with anddrives a bevel gear on an upright :shaft carrying. oneof the driving pulleys. The other pair ofbevel .gearstnot shown).also consists-'of a bevel gear on. shaft 101 drivingxa bevelgear on an upright shaft carrying'the.pulleydriving the other helt 99.. A

drum secured on shaft 101uand .shown in Fig. 7 drives thebelt .100 which is looped over aseries of idler pulleys to provide a horizontal run extending along the lower edgesof belts 99.. Since .the construction .of the tiller feed channel .andthe arrangement of thebevel gears for drivingthepulleysof belts 99 is conventional and shown 106 cut in the .end of a piston rod107 protrudingfrom t the-hydraulic motor 108. The.post.106a extending upwardly from rack 106 engages one. side .of'a flange on a sleeve 109 slidably mounted on a valve rod 110 which also gprotrudes from motor 108. Inside sleeve 109 isv provideda spring 116 attached at one end to valve rod 110 and attached at' its other end to a bar 112 which-is fastened to sleeve 109. Whennuts 112a threaded on bar 112 areengaged bypost 106a during the outward movement of =rack'106, the spring 116 will be stretched. in a manner hereinafter -described. Bar 112 is mounted in a the frame of the machine.

In the protruding portion-of valve rod 110 are two annular grooves 110a and 1111b properly spaced to be engaged byrocker-arm 113 atthe. end ofeach stroke of the valve rod110. The. arm 113 is maintained in engagement with either of said annular grooves by a tension spring 113a and disengaged therefrom by a pin 114 on an arm 115 attached to and moving withcutterj133on vertical reciprocating block 132,. in a manner which will be presently. described. H

In the operation of'rnycross feed, pin1114 comes down and strikes. rocker armkllfi; disengaging same from the left ;hand groove 1110a in, the protruding portion of valve rod.1'10. Then spring .116 forces the valve rod 110 inwardly to -displace the valve spoolportion 119a thereof sufficiently to :open ,port 117a leading from a chamber 117,.co1nmunicating with pipel 31b, to thealeftuhand side.of:piston.118. Rod 110 re. mains .in dhis position'tvvaiting afor master valve 81, which :is .:.CODI1BCtill :to npipeifilli ito ;.open :at 1 the .proper slidably 8 time. In-themeantime, pin 1-14 ascends and allows rocker bar.113 to engage the right hand annularsgroove 11% inthe protruding portion of valve rod 110. At the proper timemaster valve 31 opens, allowing oil under pressure to pass through pipe:31b into the cored out chamber117 in motor 108 and thence past valve spool portion 119a ofrod 110 and through to the left hand side of piston 118.

I Thepiston1'18 is thus displaced tothe right, and the oil on the .rightkside of the piston passesoutof the cylinder andinto the .right ihand port 117b. The spool valve portion 11911 of valve rod 110lis in a predetermined position shownin Fig. 7 at this time to permit the oil flowing intotheaight handfport 117b :to flow into a drilled passage l08atformed inmotor 108 and communicating with pipe -31a.and.then back to master valve 31.

When piston 118 has moved farenough to the right for post 1060 to strike nuts 112a threaded on rod 112, rod 112 is moved to the right sufficiently to stretch spring 116. Thus sleeve 109 is displaced to the right until the flange on this sleeve'strikes a corner 120 formed onrocker arm 11-3 'andraises arm 113 to disengage it from the right hand annular groove 11% inrod 110. The spring 116 which is now under tensionppulls valve rod 110 to. the right, thereby reversing the oil fiow from the left side of the piston 118 to the right side of the same while arm 113 engages the left hand annular groove 110a in rod 110. The oil now'flows from chamber117 through port 117b into the cylinder. This causes piston 118 to travel to the left,and as post106a strikes the flange on sleeve 109, it compresses spring 116 so that it will be ready for the next cycle. The oil now displaced by piston 118 flows throughport 117a into the passage 108a to be returned to valve 31, thevalve spool portion 119a being in position to permit theoil to flow from port 117a to port 108a.

As rack 106 moves to the right with piston rod 107, gear 105 is rotated to turn ratchet 103 and cause rollers 104 to drive drum 102 on shaft 101. Shaft 101 is thus driven in'the proper direction to advance cross feed belts 99 and to the right. The rack 106 when moving to the left,"turns gear and ratchet 103 in the'opposite direction; but rollers 104 do not drive drum 102 and there is no motion of same. Since there will be no springing of the rack 106.when it drives shaft 101, despite variations in the friction of the belts 99 against rigid plates (not shown) which engage the inner sides of these belts to back up the same, the tobacco will be advanced by uniform increments and bunch length sections of uniform length will be separated from the leading end of the tobacco stream. Heretofore, variations in the amount of thefiller tobacco manually laid in the tiller feed channel would produce variations in the amount of friction be tween belts 99 and said plates along the portion of the filler stream which is compacted by mechanism hereinafter described. Therefore, variations in the friction of belts 99 againstsaid plates would create different degrees of springing of the driving partsfor these belts in prior machines and thus vary the length of the increment by which the tobacco stream is advanced and consequently produce variations in the length of the cut charges. For example, a certain amount of springing is inherent in a structure such as shown in Wheeler No. 2,311,011 where the feed belts are driven by lever 40 (Figure 3 thereof), driven by a cam lever. Variations in belt friction produce variations of springing. This cannot occur in the rack 106 as the extent of its motion is controlled not by its drive means but by the stop 112a acting upon the drive means when the measured feed is made. Accordingly, the feed movement must be the same regardless of resistance. I

Bunch length sections are severed from the layer of tobacco advanced by the belts 99 and 100 and assembled in a magazine 121 to form a vertical column of tobacco which is compactedto a predetermined density prior to separation of I bunchhcharges from the lower end of i the asnaeee column. When magazine 121 has received a sufiicient number of bunch length sections, pin 114 on arm 115 of block 132, which is controlled by mechanism hereinafter described, fails to go down far enough to release bar 113, and the feeding of the layer of tobacco by belts '99 and 100 stops until the level of tobacco in the magazine has been reduced. It will be seen from the above description that when nuts 112a are adjusted along bar 112 the length of the bunch length sections can be increased or diminished to suit the required cigar length, since the extent of the forward travel of the belts 99 and 100 is controlled by the position of nuts 112a.

Continuing with the description of the filler feed shown in Fig. 7, the layer of filler tobacco is advanced by'the belt 100 into the upper portion of a measuring chamber or magazine 121 having side walls extending along the lateral edges of the belt 100 and across the rolling apron 226 hereinafter described. The leading end of the tobacco layer is fed between the side walls of magazine 121 and on to fingers 122. These fingers and the charge-cutting knife 123, which forms the bottom of magazine 121, are attached to a slide 124 guided by a frame 124a attached to the table L. Slide 124 is connected to a piston rod 125 projecting from cylinder 126. Master valve 37. opens to allow oil under pressure to flow through pipe 37a into cylinder 126 and displace piston 125 and slide 124 outwardly. Thus fingers 122 will be retracted and knife 123 will be pulled out from under the tobacco column which is formed in magazine 121 in a manner hereinafter described and supported on knife 123. Moreover, when slide 124 is moved outwardly, the leading end of the tobacco layer advanced on to the fingers 122 by belt 100 will be deposited on top of the vertical column of tobacco in magazine 121 while the tobacco column is supported on the bunch rolling apron 226 after withdrawal of knife 123.

The cam 370 operating valve 37 is so timed that after the leading end of the tobacco layer has been fed on to fingers 122, the valve 37 is lowered to place the pressure chamber 58 in communication through the upper intermediate pair of slots in sleeve 90 with the upper port in the side of the main valve housing, which is connected to the pipe 37a, to cause slide 124 to move outwardly. The oil so displaced by piston 125 will be returned by pipe 37b to chamber 59 through valve 37.

The charge-cutting knife 123 is guided by rails (not shown) extending underneath the knife along the longitudinal edges thereof. These rails are attached to the lower edges of swinging members 128 pivoted on brackets supported by frame 124a and lugs 121a on the side walls of the magazine 121. Members 128 are provided with upwardly extending lugs which are pivotally connected to a toggle 129 which is connected to a piston rod 130 protruding from cylinder 131.

Piston rod 130 is connected to a piston 130a in the cylinder 131. The flow of oil under pressure from chamber 58 of the main valve housing to pipe 34a, which communicated with the lower end of cylinder 131, is controlled by master valve 34 to lift the piston 139a and swing the members 128 outwardly when the knife 12% is withdrawn. The oil displaced in the cylinder 131 by the upward movement of piston 1311a is returned through pipe 34b to the valve 34 which is then in position to permit the oil to flow into exhaust chamber 59.

On a block 132, which slides vertically between the side walls of the magazine 121, is formed a corrugated cutter 133 having a configuration corresponding to the desired shape of the-head ends of the severed bunch lengths and'the desired shape of the indentations in the tuck ends of the same. Block 132 has a series of vertical slots 132a extending up from its bottom and into which the fingers 122 project when they are moved inwardly and is attached to a piston rod 134 projecting from cylinder block 135. Cutter133 coacts with a lower corrugated cutter or ledger plate 136, which has indentations fitting 16 the configuration of cutter 133, to sever a bunch length from the leading end of the tobacco layer advanced by belts 99 and 100 on to fingers 122 after the latter are withdrawn. In this manner, the severed bunch lengths will be superimposed to form a vertical tobacco column in magazine 121. The cutter 136 is supported by extensions of the side walls of magazine 121, which extend along the delivery end of belt 100, in a position to sup port the tobacco stream as it is advanced thereover on to fingers 122.

A spool valve 137 (Figs. 7 and 8) is slidably mounted in a bore 137b .of the cylinder block which is connected by three ports 142a, 1421: and 142a to the bore in which piston 141 is mounted. Valve 137 is normally maintained in a predetermined position to open port 142a and partially close port 14% by a spring 138 engaging an adjusting screw 139 threaded into the top of cylinder block 135 and covered by a sealing cap 140. The pressure applied by the block 132 to the'tobacco in magazine 121 to compress the same to a predetermined density should be considerably less than the pressure required on the cutter 133 to sever a bunch length from the leading end of the tobacco layer advanced into the magazine, because the pressure required for severance of the bunch length section would crumble the tobacco in magazine 121 if applied thereto. For this purpose, the fluid supplied through pipe 32a after valve 32 is opened at the proper time by its cam 320 is delivered under pressure into a port 137:: in the cylinder head 135 extending into the bore 137k in which the spool valve 137 is located and flows through the port 142a into the space above piston 141 to apply sufficient pressure to knife 133 to sever the bunch length section. The pressure applied to the piston 141 will be determined by the resistance of the tobacco being cut. The pressure applied to piston 141 will correspond to the'resistance of the tobacco during the cut ting of the bunch length up to a predetermined maximum corresponding to the pressure at which oil is delivered from pump 6. The fluid displaced by piston 141 flows out through ports 142c and 137d into pipe 32b and is returned through valve 32 to the reservoir 56.

The severance of the bunch length section is completed when the piston 141 reaches port 142b, so that when the piston is below this port the pressure of the fluid passing through port 1421) and seeping under the portion of valve 137 seated against a bushing 143 will lift the valve 137, to partially close the port communicating with pipe 32a, as shown in Fig. 8. Therefore the pressure applied to head 132 while it is compressing the tobacco column in magazine 121will be reduced sufliciently to avoid disintegration of'the same. This pressure will remain constant since it is controlled by the action of valve 137 and the adjusted tension of spring 138. If the pressure should tend to increase, valve 137 will move upward closing off the'source of pressure. Should it tend to be reduced by downward movement of piston 141, spring 133 will move valve 137 downwardly to admit further oil under pressure. This pressure will remain unvaried during the compression of the tobacco column and head 132 will continue descending until the column is compacted to a predetermined density. Therefore, bunch charges of uniform density will be separated from the lower end of the column by knife 123, and the cigars formed therefrom will be of uniform size. I

Since the pressure of spring 133 determines the pressure Which must be applied to valve 137 to lift the same into position to partially close the port communicating with pipe 32a, it will be seen that by adjusting nut 139 to regulate the tension of spring 138 the pressure applied to piston 141 during the compression of the tobacco column may be regulated. Thus, the desired unvaried pressure may be applied to head 132 and the column will be compacted to the desired density. When valve 32 is reversed to permit fluid to flow through port 142a and lift the piston 141, fluid under pressure will also flow throughzperforationsin;the. lower: end :of .bu'shingrldfirinto willibe fully opened andtheifluid displacedibytthe .upward.

movementof piston i141 iwillsilow t-hroughrport 142a;past V'flIVCA'137j intopipe 62a to he returnedttocsnmprSG;

Operating to compress the layer of tobacco inzthe :filler feed channel at the sametime that .the block.132 is moved downwardly tocompress thestobacco column, is. a;pressure-- plate =:144..having raplate 144a hinged :thereonand operated by an tarm145 pivotallyrconnected torone .end of 3a head.146. .Onzthe opposite end of:this;head 2146 is s'lidably mounted apin 147 attached to plate-.144. A compression. spring 148 is interposed betweenhead 146 and plate 144. Head -146 is. connected :tona :piston :149 by piston rod 149aprotruding .frorna cylinder 150 which isconnected to pipes 32a and 32b and controlled by the valve.32. Therefore, when valve '32..is operated by its cam.32c to force piston 141 down incylinder head .135, fluid .will be supplied simultaneously to cylinder 150 through .pipe 32a to displace "piston .149 .downwardly. Therefore, head 146 will operate the compressor. foot1144 to compress the underlying portion :of the layer oftobacco in thefiller feed channel and its extension 144a will be swung down to press the tobacco :into .the filler feed channel.

,Fingers .122 enter the slots 132a inhead rl32iin positions above the upper end of the tobacco column after'the head 132 has compressed the tobacco column. To move the slide 124 inwardly for this. purpose the valve .37 is operated by its cam to cut .Ofi IthC supply of fluid to pipe 37a and deliver it to the otherside of piston 125 through pipe 37b whereby the slide 124 will be moved inwardly. Inward movement of slide 124 will also causeithe knife 123 to separate a bunch chargefrorn the lower end of the tobacco column and will be further described in connection with the bunch rolling table. The tobacco column will beheld down :by the.fingers 122 while the block 132 is raised and the next tobacco layer is fed on to fingers 122.

When the valve 32 is displacedby the cam.32c tocut otf'the flow of fluid into pipe32a and to permit itto flow into pipe 321) the piston '141 in cylinder. head 1 35 willbe displaced upwardly to raisethe block 132 and cutter133. Piston 149 in cylinder 150 will simultaneously be raised to lift the compressor foot 144 and its extension 144a, to permit the tobacco layer to be fed on to the'flngers 122.

The knife 123.is formed from a thin sheet of suitable metahand has a V-shaped identation (not shown) on its forward end on which the cutting edge isformed. With this 'shape of cutting edge thereis less interference with the movement of theltnifethrough thetobacco column during the cutting of the bunch-charge.- Moreover, I believe that the arrangement of the knife to separate the bunch charge lengthwise thereof from the tobacco column will result in less displacement of the tobacco in the column, because a smaller width of the knife'engages the column than in the case of a knife moving through the column transverselycf the bunch length. It will be ob served that the tips of the fingers 122 extend sufiiciently into the indentations of the ledger plate 136 to hold down the fish tails formed by severance of the bunch length sections. Thus the layer of filler tobacco on belt 190 may be'fedon to the fingers '1 22 Without interference by upwardly projecting fish tails in the column. Inaprior construction wherein the knife was moved transversely of the bunch length to separate the bunch charge, the fingcrswerc moved with the knife int-o positions overlying the'top cf the column and did nothold'downfthe fish'ta'ils adjacent the ledger plate.

The swinging-members 128guide-the cutting edge 'of knife 12-3 into aslot provided below the ledgerp'late L36 gnomes 12 tmadmitthei'same. When memberslZS areswungiapart any. tobacco accumulating .thereonwill .fall off. Thus tobacco cannot accumulate onthese members insufiicient quantity to interfere with the .operation of knife 123.

I claimz' .1. Thecombination with La compacting. member, .of .a hydraulic :cylinder "having .a: main lhore, a piston slidably mounted in thewmain bore .of said:cylinder and connected to :said compacting member, means for delivering .fluid under pressure towsaid .cylinderto displace said piston and thereby operate. said compactingmember, andla device for maintaining an unvaried pressure of the fluid dcliveredto said cylinder to thereby maintain .an unvaried: pressureon said compacting member, saidcylinder being provided with inlet and outletports-connected to said means and an auxiliary bore whose upper and lower ends communicate respectively with said inlet and outlet ports, and said device including a spool valve: slidably mounted in said auxiliary bore, an upper portconnccting the upper 'end of said auxiliary bore to the upper endofsaidmain bore, acompression spring seated in into raid auxiliary bore when said piston moves below saidfintermediate port whereby said spool valve will be moved upwardly against said spring and into position to restrict theflow of fluid from said inlet portto said main bore, and a lower outlet port through said auxiliary bore and connecting the lower end of said main bore with said auxiliary bore whereby the fluid displaced by the downward movement of said piston will flowinto said outlet port, said :spool valve having means therethrough connecting the ends thereof so fluid pressureat said lower outlet port will be equally applied to both ends of'said spoolvalve to cancel the eifect of said lower outlet port pressure on said spool valve during the return cycle of said piston.

' "2. In a cigar machine, the combination with mechanism 'for'intermittently advancing a continuouslayer of filler tobacco, of means for'separating sections from the leading end of said tobacco layer and assembling them to form a tobacco column,"means for compactingsaid tobacco'column to a predetermined density, and adevice controlled by said compacting means for stoppingthe operation of said mechanism when the depth 'of said column becomes excessive, said mechanismincluding a drive shaft, a pinion-mounted on said drive shaft, 21 rack meshing with said pinion, .a-hydraulic cylinder having a bore, a piston, slidably mounted insaid bore, a-piston rod connected to said piston and-protruding from said cylinder and 'connected to said rack, a-valve rod slid: ably mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder having "a chamber formed therein and connected to a source of fluid under'pressure, said cylinder having ports communicating with said chamber and the ends of said bore, said valve-rod having portions adapted when the rod is displaced axially to respectively close and open said ports to permit'fiuidto flow into either endof thebore and displace said' piston and cause said raclcto drive said pinion, a'helical spring connected atone end to said valve rod,-a bar connected to the other end of said spring, asleeve secured to said bar and enclosing said spring, said valve rod protruding from said cylinder, said valve rod having a left hand annular groove and a right hand annular groove formedinthe protruding portion thereof, a pivotedmember engaging saidlft hand annular groove, said device operating to disengage said'pivoted member from-'saidleft hand annular groove when the depth of said .tdbacco 'column falls 1 below i a predetermined limit whereby said valve rod will he displacedi inwardly in 13 said cylinder by said spring until said pivoted member engages said right hand groove to permit fluid from said chamber to displace said piston forwardly, an abutment on said bar, a member on said rack adapted to engage said abutment whereby said bar and sleeve will be displaced forwardly and said spring will be stretched, and said sleeve being adapted to disengage said pivoted member from said right hand groove when the spring is stretched whereby the valve rod will be displaced outwardly until the pivoted member engages the'left hand groove to permit the fluid from said chamber to displace the piston in the opposite direction and thereby cause said abutment to displace said sleevesufliciently to compress said spring.

3. In a cigar machine, the combination with means for advancing a continuous layer of filler tobacco, of means for separating sections from the leading end of said layer and assembling them to form a vertical column of tobacco and compacting said column to a predetermined density, said last-mentioned means including a member adapted to engage the top of said column and compact the same, a ledger plate underlying said tobacco layer, a cutter supported on said member and adapted to coact with said ledger plate to separate bunch lengths from the leading end of said tobacco layer, and a device connected to said column-compacting member to apply a predetermined pressure to said member and thereby move said cutter into engagement with said ledger plate to sever a section from the leading end of the tobacco layer, and then apply a reduced pressure to said member while moving it into engagement with the top of said tobacco column for compaction of the same.

4. In a cigar machine, the combination with means for advancing a continuous layer of filler tobacco, of means for separating sections from the leading end of said layer and assembling them to form a vertical column of tobacco and compacting said column to a predetermined density, said last-mentioned means including a member adapted to engage the top of said column and compact the same, a ledger plate underlying said tobacco layer, a cutter supported on said member and adapted to coaot with said ledger plate to separate bunch lengths from the leading end of said tobacco layer, and a device connected to said column-compacting member to apply a predetermined pressure to said member and thereby move said cutter into engagement With said ledger plate to sever a section from the leading end of the tobacco layer, and then apply a reduced pressure to said member while moving it into engagement with the top of said tobacco column for compaction of the same, said device including a hydraulic cylinder, a piston in said cylinder connected to said column-compacting member, means for delivering fluid under pressure to said cylinder to displace said piston and therebly cause said cutter to sever a bunch length section and subsequently cause said member to engage and compact said column, and instrumentalities forcontrolling thetpressure of the fluid supplied to said cylinder to apply a greater pressure to the piston during the severance of the bunch length section by said cutter than during the compaction of the column by said member.

5. In a cigar machine, the combination with a magazine adapted to contain a vertical column of tobacco consisting of superimposed sections of long filler tobacco, of means for advancing a continuous layer of long filler tobacco into said magazine so that the leading end thereof will overlie the upperend of said tobacco column, a ledger plate across which the leading end of said tobacco layer is advanced into said magazine, a corrugated cutter adapted to coact with said ledger plate to separate a tobacco section from the leading end of said layer after it is advanced into said magazine, said ledger plate having indentations corresponding to the desired shape of the severed end of the tobacco sections and said corrugated cutter having projections fitting said indentations, and spaced horizontal members extending above the top of said col-' umn lengthwise of the superimposed tobacco sections therein to support the portion of the tobacco layer advanced into the magazine by said means, the tips of said members extending into the indentations of said ledger plate to hold down the underlying portions of the tobacco in the top of said column.

6. In a cigar machine, the combination with a magazine adapted to contain a vertical column of tobacco consisting of superimposed sections of long filler tobacco, of

means for advancing a continuous layer of long filler tobacco into said magazine so that the leading end thereof will overlie the upper end of said tobacco column, a led-' ger plate across which the leading end of said tobacco layer is advanced into said magazine, a corrugated cutter adapted to coact with said ledger plate to separate a tobacco section from the leading end of said layer after it is advanced into said magazine, said ledger plate having in dentations corresponding to the desired shape of the severed end of the tobacco sections and said'corrugated cutter having projections fitting said indentations, spaced horizontal members extending above the top of said column lengthwise of the superimposed tobacco sections therein to support the portion of the tobacco layer advanced into the magazine by said means, the tips of said members extending into the indentations of said ledger plate to hold down the underlying portions of the tobacco in the top of said column, a horizontally movable slide on which said members are supported to be moved into positions above the top of said column, and a horizontal knife also supported on said slide to be advanced through the lower end of said column to separate a bunch charge therefrom. 1

. 7. In a cigar machine, the combination with mechanism for forming and assembling sections of filler tobacco to form a vertical column of tobacco, of a horizontal knife adapted to be moved across the lower end of said column to separate a bunch charge therefrom, members adapted to guide the lateral edges of said knife while it is separating a bunch charge from the column, mechanism for moving the knife across the lower end of the column and then retracting the knife, and a device for moving said members out of knife-guiding position when the knife is retracted topermit tobacco accumulations to drop off said members.

8. In a cigar machine the combination with mechanism for intermittently advancing a continuous layer of filler tobacco, of means for separating sections from the leading end of said tobacco layer and assemblying them to form a tobacco column, means for compacting said tobacco column to a predetermined density, a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, and unitary hydraulic means to supply maximum pressure from said source to said separating means for separating sections from the leading end of said tobacco layer and applying a predetermined lesser pressure for compacting said tobacco column to a predeterminded density, said unitary hydraulic means comprising a hydraulic cylinder having a bore, a piston slidably mounted in said bore, a piston rod connected to said piston and protruding from said cylinder. and operatively connected to said separating means and said compacting means to operate said means respectively in that order, said cylinder having a port adjacent the power intake end of said cylinder to receive fluid under pressure to move said piston to move said separating means and said compacting means, an exhaust port adjacent the exhaust end of said cylinder, and a port intermediate said intake and exhaust ports, and a hydraulic device operative to occlude said intake port, said intermediate port being in communication with said hydraulic device when the pressure in said cylinder attains said predetermined lesser pressure whereby said piston during an initial part of its stroke utilizes maximum available pressure from said source to operate said severing means and during a latter part of its stroke utilizes, said lesser: predeterminedtpressure to 1 compact said column to said :predetermined density.

9. In combination with a compacting member having a cutting member attached thereto, of a hydrauliecylinder, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and connected to'said compacting membenmeans for delivering fluid under pressure to said cylinder to displace said piston a portion of its stroke to operate said cutting member under maximum fluid pressure, the remainder of the stroke operating said compacting member, 'and a-device for maintaining a predeterminedlimite'd pressure of the fluid delivered to said piston during-the latter portionof its stroke to maintain said limited pressure on-said compacting member, said device-being inoperative duringithe return cycle of said piston.-

10. In a cigar machine, the combination with mechanism for intermittently advancing a continuous layer of filler tobacco, of ahydraulic motor drivingsaid mechanism, a-source of fluid under pressure, a valvev controlled by said mechanism to supply said fluid to-said hydraulic motor and to cut off said fluid on the completion of a predetermined intermittent advance of said layer, of instrumentalities for separating bunch length sections from the leading end of said tobacco layer and assembling the bunch lengthsections to form a column of variable depth, mechanism for compacting said column with an unvaried pressure to a predetermined density irrespective of variations-in the ,depth of said column, latch means to lock. said valve in said cut-off position, andmeans controlled by said column compactingmechanisrn for releasing said latch means, said column compacting mechanism operat-,

11. In a cigar machine, "fhBCOHlblllfitlOIl ,withinechanismfor intermittently advancing acontinuous layer of filler tobacco, means forseparatingsections "from the leading end of said tobacco layer and assembling them to form 'a tobacco column, means for compacting said tobacco column to a predetermined density,. a device controlled by'said compacting means for stopping the operation of said mechanism when the depth of said column becomes excessive, said mechanism including a hydraulic motor and instrumentalities to advance said tobacco layer, said hydraulic motor being operatively arranged to drive said instrumentalities, a source of fluid under pressure, a movable" valve arranged tosupplysaid fluid to said hydraulic motor to advance said tobacco layer, said' valve beingmovableito cut. ofl'saidlfluid from saidhydraulic motor, an adjustable stop means connected to said, valve ,to move it .to fluid cut-off position when contacted, stop contacting means on saidfinstrumentalities to contact said adjustable stop means sothat when said motorhas advanced said tobacco layer a predetermined amount established by said adjustable stop means I said motor will bearrested, said 'device controlledby said compacting means comprising a latch means toilock said valve insaid fluid cut-01f position, said "latch means being movable toa non-latching position when contacted by said compactingmeans, said "compacting means being prevented from contacting said latch means when said column exceeds apredetermined depth to prevent afurther advance of saidltobacco layer, and means to cyclically release and reset 'saidg-adjustablestop ,means .fro saidstop contactingmeans.

12. In a cigarmachine, the 'combination'withmechanism for intermittently advancing-a continuous layer of fillertobacco, means "for -separating sections from the 16 leadingwendrofttsaid tobacco layer and assembling them to form 1'8. :.to.bacco :column, means forcompacting said tobacco .column .to a'predetermined density, a device controlled by said.compactingtmeans' for stopping the op eration of ssaidzmechanism whenthe depth of said column becomeseexces'sive,'saidmechanism includinga hydraulicmotor and .instrumentalities to advance said tobaccolayer, said hydraulic motor being operatively, arranged .to idriveisaid .instrumentalities, a source of fluid under pressure, amovable valve-arranged to supply said fiuid=to saidhydraulic'motor to advance saidtobacco layer, saidvalve being movabletocut off said fluid from said hydraulicmotor, an adjustable stop means connected to said valve to move it to fluid cut-01f position'when contacted. and stop contacting means-on said instrumentalities to contact said adjustable stop means so that when saidmotor has advanced said tobacco layer a predetermined amount establishedby said adjustable stop means said motor willbe arrested, said'device controlled bysaid compacting means comprising a latch means to lock said valve in said fluid cut-ofi position, said latch means being movable to a non-latching position when contacted by said compacting means, and said compact- 1 Reterences'Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 180,460 :Chadwick Aug. 1, 1876 1,252,934 Norquest Jan. 8, 1918 1,374,571 Hummel Apr. 12, 1921 21,555,008 Harrington Sept. 29,1925

1,578,579 :Bronander Mar. 30, .1926 1,715,141 Mathieson May.28, 1929 11,786,608 Halstead Dec. 30, 1930 1,888,788 Clausen -2 Nov. 22, 1932 1,905,132 Bishop 'Apr. 25, 1933 1,909,813 Crosbie May 16, 1933 1,945,022 Clausen 'Jan. 30, 1934 1,956,027 Heitman Apr. 24, 1934 2,012,149 Wheeler. Aug. 20, 1935 2,118,021 Curtis May 17, 1938 2,139,185 Engel Dec. 6, 1938 2,148,987 Bonn Feb. 28, 1939 2,151,898 Clausen Mar. 28, 1939 2,164,876 Horlacher July 4,1939 2,167,328 Beggs July'25,1939 2,172,834 Clausen Sept. 12, 1939 2,206,163 Clench July'2, 1-940 2,213,244 .Finn Sept. 3, 1940 2,277,732 'Wahlstrom a- -Marf3 1, 1942 2,311,011' iWheeler Feb. 16, 1943 2,333,675 Randolph Nov.=9, 1943 2,343,902' Halstead Mar. 14, 1944 2,356,637 iWheeler Aug. 22,, 1944 2,363,142 Reed .Q Nov. 21,1944 2,378,166 Wheeler June 12,1945 2,391,294 Clausen Dec. 18,1945 2,458,290 Monroe Ian. 4,1949 2,489,796 'Miller L Nov. 29, 1949 2,529,777 "Mclnnis Nov. 14, 1950 2,586,785 Carr Feb. 26, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 133,657 GreatBritain Oct. 16, 1919 

